First Year: Constitutional Law

This course provides an introduction to the law of the Canadian constitution. It examines the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federalism, and Indigenous rights. The course introduces the concept of constitutionalism and explores the nature of Canadian constitutionalism specifically. We ask what constitutions mean and what they are meant to achieve. We look at how the Canadian Constitution is structured and, in turn, how it structures public power in Canada. We consider the role of judicial review and the relationship between courts and legislatures, with respect to the distribution of legislative authority, constitutional rights and freedoms, and Indigenous rights. We will examine selected federal and provincial powers, Indigenous rights, and Charter rights in more detail.